Did a simulation exercise improve your project management team?

1 What are simulation exercises?

Simulation exercises are interactive learning activities that mimic real-world scenarios and situations. They can be used to train, test, or evaluate project management teams on various aspects of PPM, such as decision making, communication, collaboration, risk management, and stakeholder engagement. Simulation exercises can be designed to fit different levels of complexity, duration, and objectives. They can be conducted online or offline, individually or in groups, and with or without facilitators.

2 Why use simulation exercises?

Simulation exercises can provide multiple advantages to project management teams and organizations. These include enhancing the team's understanding of PPM concepts and how they apply to their specific context, exposing them to different scenarios and challenges that they may encounter in real projects, and fostering the team's critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity skills. Simulation exercises can also improve communication, collaboration, and feedback skills within the team, increase motivation, engagement, and confidence, and make learning more enjoyable and memorable.

3 How to design simulation exercises?

Designing simulation exercises for PPM does not follow a one-size-fits-all approach. However, there are some general steps and guidelines to consider. First, define the purpose and objectives of the simulation exercise and identify the target audience. Then, choose the format and mode of the simulation exercise and develop a scenario with tasks. Additionally, prepare materials and resources for the team to use during the simulation. Finally, implement and monitor the simulation exercise, followed by evaluating and debriefing it in order to measure, analyze, and share the results and feedback.

4 What are some examples of simulation exercises?

Simulation exercises can be used for PPM depending on the purpose, audience, format, and scenario. For example, a project selection simulation requires the team to rank and select a portfolio of projects based on predefined criteria and constraints. On the other hand, a project prioritization simulation requires assigning weights and scores to different projects based on their strategic value, urgency, and feasibility. Additionally, a project portfolio balancing simulation involves balancing the portfolio of projects based on risk, return, duration, and diversity. Furthermore, a project portfolio monitoring simulation entails monitoring the progress and status of multiple projects. Lastly, a project portfolio governance simulation requires establishing and following roles, responsibilities, processes, and policies for managing the portfolio of projects.

5 How to measure the impact of simulation exercises?

To assess whether simulation exercises have improved your project management team's skills and performance in PPM, you need to define and collect relevant indicators and data before, during, and after the simulation. These could include knowledge and comprehension, application and analysis, synthesis and evaluation, attitude and behavior, and performance and outcome. To measure these indicators and data, you can use various methods and tools such as quizzes, surveys, interviews, observations, feedback, reports, dashboards, and metrics. Collecting this data will help you evaluate the team's level of understanding of PPM concepts, principles, and practices; their ability to apply and analyze them; their ability to create solutions based on different criteria; their attitude towards PPM; as well as their performance in terms of quality, efficiency, effectiveness, and value.